Irrigation issue
 

[[/B] I have noticed the charge for irrigation has increased, as has the alleged number of gallons. I looked in my irrigation box to get a reading on the number of gallons but the dial window was blank. How can I keep tabs on the number of gallons day-to-day ?

:icon_wink: Good question for the WATER DEPT. :oops:

Some meters have a flop top lid that must be closed and then opened for the numbers to display. Since the irrigation system only uses water on a programmed schedule, it will be difficult to monitor it on a day by day basis.

Unless he has a continuous leak which might be why it could keep increasing which could be why his cost and gallons went up.

Yes, but even if there is a continuous leak, the leak could only be located between the meter and the electronic zone valves, assuming the zone valves are shutting off properly. When the zone valves are closed, more than 90 percent of the irrigation piping will have no water pressure.

You can keep tabs of the water usage yourself with a water monitor. It is impossible for you to have any usage of any kind, including leaks, without being able to see it.

Despite what you have read here in this thread it is extremely easy to monitor water daily, hourly or even smaller time units.

Effectively you have two choices if you have a separate irrigation line. One, Flume water monitor, amazon 200.00 monitors at the meter, no plumbing, no fees. Installation is three minutes, maybe ten. No tools required.

Two, Rachio irrigation controller with a water monitor option. Plumbing, required. You cut into the irrigation line on your side of the meter.

I recommend the Flume option.

Ask any questions you have.

+1 for Flume.

Discovered my rain sensor was not working with the recent rains.

Also detects broken heads.

Fyi an avg 4 heads per zone can be 10-20 gallons per minute . sixty minutes on means maybe 600-1200 gallons or more times twice a week . just an estimate .

you can take the sensor apart and adjust,,,there is like flat Cheerios in there that swell up when wet,flatten when dry..careful how you take it apart...pay attention

you can water manually if you want 1 zone at a time and check the gallons. you don't need to use the pre-programmed timer

Replacement rain sensor
 

You can buy a new sensor or just the "flat Cheerios" from Amazon. I replace mind every spring. Takes all of a minute.

Mine also keeps going up. Had my system tested- absolutely no leaks. After complaining online here , it suddenly went down the next month? I think something is going on with the water company

Have you had your irrigation system inspected and maintained or repaired (including the rain sensor)? That should be done about twice a years. Lots of companies providing that service advertise locally. Usually, the inspection is a reasonable cost, replacement of broken or defective parts can be pricey. Remember, your whole irrigation system is mostly plastic and doesn’t stand up well to lawnmowers, nor does it last forever.

If you have water running down street for 30 mins plus, you wasting water when watering you’re lawn. After about 15 or 20 minutes all you’re doing is watering the street drain. IMO it best to monitor and adjust time so you don’t have runoff. As mentioned if you have the digital display meter you have to flip the lid cover couple times to get it to display. I’d you have leak before the meter you will see eventually see water from the meter out to street. If you have leak after the meter, you should see the meter numbers slowing moving. I don’t have separate irrigation water system from retention ponds, but same principle should apply IMO. As others have said The rain sensor probably don’t work, You’re run times are running on A,B, C systems, run times are probably running too long, pop ups may need adjusting so you’re watering yard and not street, house, or driveway, and you may have leaks?

Maybe averaging you’re bill. You should be able to see meter numbers at start of pay cycle and what you used at end of the pay cycle.